Invalid&#39;s bed



March 14, 1950 A. J. TAYLOR EHIIWIHIHIM.uwlI

l' i /lg 'a Z3 lIN VEN TOR. ,4a/mf J woz Arfae/vf/ A.J.TAYLOR INVALIDS BED March 14, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 30, 1945 W -IM @HLN mn W www. WW Y mA 7 MW; 1 u w T/ MM l M mw JMW I M l w l O y R u n ma@ M 0, e l [ml N m im L NVN mn O s 2 y. M U e \\N.Hll/ J 4 5 A IIII IIIIII Il EL!! :FO l IIIIIIII Il `|Ll|^nv J N/v. l "S n\\\ Z WM. NM. 4W m L B Y ,b A m. T. L J Avn N A I March 14, 1950 Filed July 5o, 1945 Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IN VALIDS BED,

Application July 30, 1945, SerialNo. 607,847

14 Claims.

This invention relates to invalid beds, and has as its general object to provide a bed having a ushable toilet incorporated therein, eliminating lthe necessity for theuse of a bed pan.

Oneof the-objects of the invention is to provide for'supportingthe patient ina semi-upright positionA suiilciently approximating the normal position in the-use. of aA toilet, to permit a substantially normal use. More specically, the invention aims toprovidep in an invalid-sfbed, a.- flushable toilet arrangement in which the toilet bowl, in its operativeposition, is so inclinedas to permit the I body of the patient to be supported in a proper relationto the-bowl and in a comfortable reclining position. In vthev',conventional use of a bedpan, supported in a horizontal position, and with the patientxsupportedin ay reclining position, therefis atendency for the body of the patient to slide forwardly on the pana The-invention eliminates this difliculty by providing for the elevation of a thigh section of a sectional bed to an inclined` position, andbringing'the toilet-bowl to a corresponding `positionrso that the patient may be supportedl .between the thigh portion and an inclined back section, of the bed, with the toilet bowl in properposition for use.

Inzordei-thatthe .bowl maybe brought to a proper operative position with relation to a patient supported uponwthe:bed,;the.invention provides,for-presentingthe bowl through an, opening inthe bed.. Itis of coursedesirable that the bowl .bepremoved `.to an inoperative. position when not in use, and it is also desirable that it belooncealedinl the inoperative position., Consequently, aA further objectto the inventionis to provide for theconcealing of thefbowl beneathvthe bedwhen it is not inr use,andi for raisingthe bowl when it isto be used.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide for tiltingthe .bowl froma normally horizontal .position to a positionconforiningto the inclinationof the thigh section of the bed. To this end, the invention contemplates'hinging the bowl upon the elevating mechanism, and utilizing the contact of the bowl with the thigh section to cause the bowl to assume the angular position of the thigh section.

Another object of the invention is to provide for swingingth'ebowl horizontallyfrom beneath the bedy in order topermit of itsbeing used by anambulatorypatient.4 In connection `with this/general object, the invention. aims to provide a .bowl operating` mechanism that. isadapted to swing the bowlgireelyiand relatively noiselessly in a horizontalldirection; ToobtainI this object, the bowl .is

suspendedfby the elevating mechanism, for swing,- ing movement about a vertical pivot and insa position just clearing :the surface of the oor..

Another Objectis to provide'an invalids bed which, in addition to the above-mentioned fea.- tures, provides for supporting the weight of the patient upon the'bowl without imposingv allfof such weight upon the elevating mechanism: To.- ward the attainment of this general object,V one of the specific objects of ther invention is to pro'- vide meansfor latching the bowl'to the thigh section when the bowl completes its elevating movement. Theinvention also aims to eiiect this latching automatically as the result of elevating-movement. In addition, the invention contemplates that thebowl may beilatched to the thigh section of they bedin any position of angularity-ofwthe thigh section, evenv though the bowl is elevated about a hinge `axis which is considerably removed from the hinge axisof the thigh section.

In order to relieve the elevating mechanism. of at least a substantial vportion of the weight of the patient when the bowl is being used in the lowered and laterally projected position, the invention provides a yielding connection between the bowl suspension mechanism and the bowl itself, which permits the'bowl to move downwardly un,- der the weight'of the patient until it rests against the floor. When the weight of the Patient is -removed from the bowl, the bowl is tiltedl upwardly by this yielding connection and is thereby supported kout of Contact with the floor in order that it may be'swung horizontally without contacting the floor.

The yielding connection between the bowl and the suspension mechanism serves'the additional object of maintaining the `bowl normally in a vposition of maximum 11p-tilt so that the outer end of the bowl will always contact the thighs'ection before the `inner end of the bowl makes contact. The continued upward movement of the inner end of the bowl is then utilized toshift the bowl longitudinally with reference to the thigh section ofthe bed so as to effect the latching of the bowl to the thigh section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bowl operating mechanism adapted to automaticallyV terminate the elevating movement ofthe bowl by cle-energizing the power means when the bowl has become latched to or properly positioned with reference to the thigh section.

Other, objects of the invention will appear in the followingA Specication when considered in connection `vviththe appended drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a plan view of an invalids bed embodying the invention, a portion of the bowl seat back rest being broken away to illustrate the bowl elevating mechanism therebeneath;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the bed taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3is a partial longitudinal sectional View showing the bed mechanism in a position different from that of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view showing the limits switch for the elevating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 6' is a longitudinal sectional view of a I further modified form of the invention; and

Fig. '7 is a fractional sectional view showing an intermediate stage of elevating movement of the bowl.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, I have shown in Figs. 1-3'jinclusive an invalids bed including a head '9, a foot I0, xed longitudinal rails II secured to the head and foot as at I2, a toilet seat bed bottom section, indicated generally at I3, a removable bed bottom section, indicated generally at I4, and subir-ames I5 and I6 upon which the ltoilet seat section I3 and removable bed bottom Asection I4 are supported. The subframe I5 is -secured to the rails II as indicated at I1, and

the subframe I6 is mountedin any suitabie manner (as, for example, upon rollers) so that -it may be shifted laterally and removed from vthe bed and onto an ambulatory cart.

The toilet seat section I3 includes a leg portion I8, a thigh portion I3 having an opening,

and a back rest 20. The removable bed bottom vsection I4 includes a leg portion I8', a thigh portion I9', and a back rest portion 20. The

'leg portions I8 and I8 are hinged to the thigh portions I9 and I9 by hinges 2l, and the thigh portions I9 and I9' are hinged to the back rests and 20 by hinges 22. The hinges 22 are hinged to brackets 23 carried by the subframes I3 and I4 respectively. Consequently, the hinge axis joining the thigh section and back rests is a xed axis, while the hinged axis joining the leg sections and thigh sections is adapted to move upwardly and towards the thigh sections so that the bed sections may assume the position shown in Fig. 4 or any intermediate position of I elevation.

The bed bottom sections are generally of shallow construction, as shown, and are adapted to receive mattresses, the toilet seat mattress being indicated in broken lines at 24 in Fig. 3, and

-being provided with an opening 25 adapted to i register with the opening O in the thigh portion of the toilet seat section, in order to pro- -vide access to the toilet bowl 26.

The foot and head rests I8, I8 and 2li, 20 are adapted to be elevated by lifts each including a rack 21, the upper end of which is adapted to engage in `a socket secured to a respective bed Abottom section, a pinion 28 meshing with the tion.

The retraction of the racks 21 below the plane Iof the subframes permits the removable bed bottom section to be shifted horizontally without interference from the racks.

l The bowl 2E is carried by bowl suspension mechanism including an arm 32, having at one end a fork 33 hinged at 34 to a vertical shaft 35, and having at its other end a fork 36 in which a tail portion 31 of the bowl is pivoted as at 38. A compression spring 39, supported upon a guide rod 40, is engaged between the bowl and a cross bar 4I in the fork 36. The spring 39 yieldingly maintains the bowl in a position of maximum uptilt with reference to the arm 32. From this position of maximum uptilt, the bowl may yield downwardly, its outer end swinging downwardhT about the hinge 38.

Projecting from the respective sides of the bowl 25, on an axis intersecting the forward, upper extremity of the bowl, are a pair of latch pins 42, The pins 42 are adapted to engage the underside of the thigh portion I9 of the toilet seat, as the bowl 26 is elevated. Engagement is against a pair of inwardly projecting flange members 43 each having at its rear end a latch hook 44 (see Fig. 4). The pins 42 are adapted to be drawn into the hooks 44 as the bowl 25 reaches an operative position in the opening O, thus to latch the bowl to the thigh section I9, so that a substantial portion of the weight of the patient is transmitted directly to the thigh section and the elevating mechanism is relieved of this portion of the patients weight.

The elevating mechanism comprises a servomotor device of the linear pull type such as a hydraulic strut or screw jack. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown a servomotor pull device comprising an electric motor 46 adapted to drive, through planetary reduction gearing 41, an internally threaded sleeve 48 into which is threaded a rod 49. The rod 49 is pivoted at 50 in the fork 36, and the case of the motor 46 has a bracket 5I which is pivoted at 52 upon the shaft 35.

The upper and lower ends of the shaft 35 are journaled respectivelv in brackets 53 and 54 secured to the head 3 of the bed.

The bowl 26 has the customary trap and outlet 55, and is connected to a sewer outlet 56 by means of a exible tube 51. Water for ilushing the bowl is injected through a flush valve 58 and a flexible hose 59 connected to the valve 58 and to a suitable water main outlet.

The 'shaft 35 has a loop portion 60 through which the exible tube 51 extends. Thus the axis of the tube 51 intersects the axis of the shaft 35.

Mounted in the thigh section I9 is a limit switch 6| which has a push button 62 extending through an opening in the hook 44 of one of the ange members 43, and is adapted to be engaged by a pin 42 when the bowl 26 reaches the operative position. The switch 6I is located in the circuit 63 through which the iield coil 64 of the motor 46 (which is a reversible motor) is energized. Such energization results in elevation of the bowl, and is terminated when the switch 6| is opened by the engagement of the button 62 by a pin 42. This energizing circuit may -be established initially by closing a switch in a control box 65. The other field coil 66 of the motor 46 is energized through a circuit 61 which includes one of the switches of the control box 65 but does not include the limit switch 6I. Consequently the fact that the circuit 63 is open does not prevent the bowl from being lowered. The lowering of the bowl is arrested when the fork 33 contacts the button of a limit switch 68 carried by the loop 6l oithel fshaftf; theslimitswitch-BB fbeing; imthe circuitl B1' vas-.showri-in E154: l

In thei operationsof f. the abed: mechanismI shown in- Figs.. 1444 inclusive, themotors-30 =areerst .energized,A through the: control box 65 and :suitable circuits .(not: shown) .and the-head' andifoot'rests are raised to the 1 desired:L reclining i positions.v At any-Itime afte'rfthe. operation of' the. motors has commenced.' thevfleld coil 64;:.otrthetmotore 46 may be energizedto startithe bowl-elevating.mechh anism. As the arm32s'wings fupwardlvthe bowl 261wi11 be` carriedthereby .in a.positionof.inolinat'ion/relative` to the'arrn32 which-.isshown inl full lines-in Figs 2 and In some cases-itf-may be.undesirableror.v the patient to bend 'his-'knees and" in--such-.a case;. the legancla-thigh sections -offthe toilet lseatlmaybe allowed1'to remainin the horizontal position. as shown infFig. 3,fwhil'ethe1backrest2lis raised... With the thigh section I9 in this position,.. the. pins 142`will` contact -the ange -members IBL-at -the extreme end: of thev thigh section, asindicated inlth'e-fiilllineposition off thebowl-'in Fig. 3.` The hinget` will then be located considerabl'yebelow the Ylevel of the thigh section... and the continued upward movement of the arm l32 will `movefthe hinge 38 upwardly untilit becomes/substantially coaxial `with'thehinge y 22 'between thethigh section andthe back rest 2li.v vThe bowl'w'ill then be infa `position-sl'rown'in dotted line-in Fig. 3, which is--in thei proper position ioruse.l In moving from thefposition shown Ain--iull lines tothe-position'shown indotted lines, thebowi 26 will shift longitudinally with reference to the thigh sec tion I 9, the pinsv 42sliding beneath theflanges 43 against which they are yieldingly urgedby the spring 39.` The spring 39 -will"-be compressed as the bowl 26--is forcedv to tiltupwardly at its rear end. Toward the end of this movement, thepins 42` will enter'the hooks 44'and whencompletely seated therein, the switch 6I will be opened, thus arresting/the operation of the'motor'46 and stop ping the bowl movement.

The bowl will now be Vsupported in the position as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3,v with its forward end `carried by the hooks,l 44'and its rear end car;- r'ied lby the arm 32; 'Iheweight of thel patient, when he restsupontheb'owl., will therefore be distributed between thelatch hooks' 44 and the 11111'38.

In the event vthe leg. and thigh sections are raised to the positionszshown in Fig. 2V (representing the maximumelevation offthe leg and thigh section) the pin 42will rst' contactgthe fianges'43 justahead of Vthehooks M as indicated in Fig. 2. The amount o1. continued upward movement of the hinge 38 from its position of initial contact to the. terminal' position rshown in dotted'` lines .in Fig. 2 is mucl'i'less than thelinove.- ment illustrated in Fig.v 3'; but is .sufficient to draw the; pins 42,'into the hooks' 44.. The; terminal positionof the hinge .38,is in this .case, as in the other case, substantially coaxial.` with thehinge 22. By arranging to have thelhinge 3B `move to the axis ofr the hinges 22, it becomes possible to arrest the bowl ,movement when the. pins 42 are justseated in; the hooks 44,.rrespective of. the inclination ofthe thigh section I9and irrespective ofethefa'ct that the vvarmT 32 swings from a..-hing.e axis thatis considerably removed from. thehinge axisZZ.

In theform of .theinvention shownin. Fig...5,.I have provided. a.. pairfof togglelinks 'I I hinged. at 'I2 ftothe. ends of the arm-4 32aandf. hinged. 'I3

t0, Vthabowi .26.. In addition .to-,tnesprine 43911 for urgingsthegbowl26ste-af position-.of.ma,xirnuxn'v uptilti witnireference'tothe arm. 32a,A Iemployzs-a' pair of springs. 'I4xwhich are engaged betweenfthe` pivots 'I3 and abutments 'I5 on the lever 32a, and which resist.. hinging' movement: of -the -r .linkse 1 I toward the arm. 32a.1 The springs '|42 aref of greater` resistance than-,the springsItSLt.v` Conso-i quently, the-springs. 'I4vv will-not;l yield until: the springs 39av have yielded.l asyrnuch.-` as. them-are permitted'toyield.;

The bowl 26l carries La pair off-pins. 42a.-ini;addition to the pins 42, thev pins 42a. being located nearthe, rear end ofthe bowl. The `springs 39a, when the bowl `is out'. ofscontact with the thigh section |911, will maintain the bowl irl'anyup" tiltedi position. with reference to. then arm' 32a whichy position isA approximately' asish'ownfinfFlg. 5i Consequently, in any'v position.. of -thegthigh section Ita below the position .of:maximumele-`- vation shown in Fig. 5,.. the pinsf42 wilizicontact the flange members 631' beforewthe -pins142a`f will contactthe flangefmembers 63a: As :the arm. 32a continuesto move upwardly," the. springs 39m-'will yieldy until.v thepins 42a contact the liiangefmem;

bersv 63a-, Furtheriupwardtmovementfoflitheiarm 32a will result' in'-jack;knifngfoi.thellvinksI :with reference to theaarm 32a, compressingrthesprings 14; At1the..same time, becausefofithe. angular positiorr-ofthevlink 1I, the1.pivot\`l31f.willmove rearwardly' with` reference .to Vthe arms, 32deI as they .ares forced ftowardcit.v This will cause.: the bowl: `2li-*to be'fshifteds'bodily rearwardly; moving the pins 42 and 42a into the hooks 44 andina; This 1 form of the invention: has.. the.. advantage of .giving` a-.greater amount' of. longitudinalimove; mentof. the bowl, and the; .additional advantage of.` making it possible tos latclr the bowl: to the thigh section .-atbothen'ds, andthereby tocorri'- pletely relieve. the arm .32a of the. weight-fof fthe patient when the toilet 'is .being used. It :hasthe yfurther advantage o f avoiding the. necessity for bringing the'hingebetween the arm 32a andthe bowl into coaxial: relationtothe/hinge 22: This formr of the linvention has the further advantage of making itipossible--fo'r both. -thesfront and 'rear end offthe4 bowl 262'1 to shift.4 downwardly'into contact withmthe iioor when the-bowl-isibeing used init's laterally projectedposition..r Accordingly, the bowl 26a isprovided'with a ilattened bottom'16`fextending both forwardly andI rearwardly' of its central vertical axis,` whereasi the foot'portionl'l of thebowl 26; which makes conttact with the il'oor as the'bowl 25 lis tilted forwardly and *f downwardly*y extendsv'o'nly on the forward sidel ofvthezvertical central. axisiof.l the bowl, and the-top portion- 55is inclinedforfspaced upwardly4r from the.: plane offthe: bottom ofrthe foot'portion TI;4 in order to1permit'the'fbowl-jto rock :about the pivot Sgt/hen' itis-nearftheoor.

In' the formwof the inventionslfiownV in` Fig: 6, the bowlf2b-is provided with rollers 42o adapted to ride' against .the undersurfacei of` the thighE sec'- ti'on I 9b until aftai1member 281 .projecting from the trapV 55h, makes contactwith a bracket:l9 which fextends rearwardly from. the thigh section I 9b` below" the hingeA 92'. As the tail .member 18-engages"thevbracketl;` it opens atlimit switch SIb" inthe-circuit b-oifthezmotor. 46; thus arresting the .elevation of the bpwlfwith` the tail. member -18fand lrollers-i217 pressedriupwardly against thegbracket IS and theA underside ofthe' thigh section |917' respectively. The: bowl' 261; will .then be supported. vby the armvSZbr-through the pivot 38h.;V Downward rmovement iofjthe fior.,-

ward end.` of the .f bowl under .the4 weightiof-fthe 7 .patient will be prevented by engagement of a tail member 'I8 with a bracket 19, while the rear end of the bowl will be supported by the pivots In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7, the bowl 26e is maintained at all times in a horizontal position by pantograph linkage including a pair of parallel arms 8l and 82 pivoted to the shaft 35, and a bracket 83 at B6, and has a tail piece 85 projecting rearwardly and adapted to engage in a bracket 86 projecting from the thigh section |9c. The weight of the bowl normally maintains it in a horizontal position in which it is supported by the engagement with the bracket 83 of a pair of lugs 8l on the trap 55e. From this horizontal position, the bowl is adapted to be tilted upwardly into operative relation to the opening 26 in the thigh section, as the result of continued elevation of the bracket B3 after the tail piece 85 has contacted the bracket 8E.

I claimas my invention:

. 1. An invalids bed comprising a seat frame section having an opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said .toilet bowl from a normally inoperative lowered position beneath the bed to a position associated with said opening from below, and cooperative latching means carried by the bowl and said seat section respectively, adapted' to 'interengage when the bowl arrives at an operative position in conjunction with said seat section, whereby to transfer at least a portion of the weight of a patient from the bowl to such seat section.

2. An invalids bed comprising a seat frame section having a bowl receiving opening, a toilet ,i

bowl, means for elevating said bowl from a normally inoperative, lowered position beneath the bed to a position associated with said opening from below, means yieldingly acting between said bowl and said elevating means, to tilt the forward end of the bowl normally upwardly, means carried by the forward end of the bowl adapted to engage the underside of said seat section and arrest the upward movement thereof while the rear end of the bowl continues to move upwardly untilthe bowl is upwardly inclined with reference to the angle of inclination of said seat section, and latching means carried by the bowl and seat section respectively and adapted to interengage as a. result of the aforesaid upward movement of the rear end ofthe bowl while the forward end is arrested, whereby to provide means for` transferring at least a portion of the weight of the Da'- tient from the bowl to the seat section and to relieve said suspending and elevating mechanism of said portion of the patients weight.

3. In an invalids bed, a toilet bowl, suspending and elevating means upon which said bowl is .carried -for movement from an inoperative, lowered position beneath the bed either to a'raised position cooperating with an opening in the bed or to a horizontally projected position extending laterally beyond the side of the bed for use by an ambulatory patient, means attaching the bowl to such suspending and elevating means for movement downwardly with reference thereto, means yieldingly actingv between the bowl and said suspending and elevating means, the parts 'of said suspending and elevating means being arranged to provide a lower limit of vertical movement in which the bowl is maintained by said yielding means in a position close to but clearing the floor upon'which the bed is supported, and said yielding means being tensioned to thus supfport the weight of the bowl itself but to yield so as to provide for movement of the bowl downwardly from said position under the weight of a patient until the bowl rests against the floor.

4. In an invalids bed, a mattress supporting toilet seat frame including a seat section having a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, means.

Aincluding an arm, for suspending and elevating said bowl from a normally lowered, inoperative position to an operative position associated with said opening from below, a link pivoted vto said arm and to one end of the bowl and disposed at an angle with reference to said arm such that upward movement of the arm when the bowl is restrained from upward movement will result in longitudinal shifting of the other end of the bowl with-reference to said toilet seat frame, and cooperative latching means on the bowl and said seat section respectively, adapted to interengage as the result of said longitudinal'shifting movement.

5. An invalids bed, as dened in claim 4, including spring means acting between said link land said arm to return the link to a normal inclination relative to said arm when said arm is moved downwardly.

6. An invalids bed as defined in claim 4, including spring means acting between said arm and the bowl to yieldingly resist pivotal movement of the bowl about the axis of the pivot between said link and the bowl, and spring means acting between said link and said arm to resist jack knifing of said link and arm, the last mentioned spring means dominating said rst mentioned spring means.

7. An invalids bed as dened in claim 4, wherein said latching means comprises latching means at both forward and rear ends of the bowl, whereby the entire weight of the patient may be trans ferred from the bowl to said seat section.

8. An invalids bed comprising a mattress supporting toilet seat frame having a seat section provided with a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, a pantograph suspending mechanism upon which the bowl is adapated to be carried from a normally inoperative, lowered position to an operative raised position associated with said opening from below, said pantograph suspending mechanism being adapted to maintain the bowl normally horizontal throughout said movement, a horizontal pivot connecting said bowl near its rear end to said pantograph mechanism to provide for the bo-wl to swing upwardly, and a tail piece on said bowl projecting rearwardly from said pivot and engageable with an extension of said seat section to swing the bowl upwardly to a substantially parallel position with reference to said seat section as the bowl nears the upper limit of itselevating movement.

9. An invalids bed comprising a mattress fram including a seat section provided with an opening, a toilet bowl, elevating mechanism for moving said bowl from a normally inoperative, lowered position beneath the bed to a position associated with said opening from below, said elevating mechanism including a yoke in which the bowl is hinged for tilting movement about ,a transverse horizontal axis, means yeldingly act- .ing between the bowl and said elevating means toltilt the forward end of the bowl normally upwardly, means carried by the bowl for .engaging the underside of said seat section to arrest the upward movement of the forward end of the bowl while the rearward end continues to move upwardly to a position of alignment with said seat section, and a tail piece on the bowl adapted during such upward movement of the rearward portion of the bowl to engage a portion of said seat Sectio-n to arrest tilting of the bowl, and a limit switch arranged to be simultaneously engaged by said tail piece for deenergizing the elevating mechanism.

10. A bed comprising an inclinable seat member having a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, means for elevating said bowl from a normally inoperative, lowered position beneath the bed to a position associated with said opening from below, said bowl being pivotedto said elevating means, means yieldingly acting between said bowl and said suspending and elevating means to normally tilt the forward end of the bowl upwardly, and means carried by the forward end of the bowl adapted to engage said seat section to arrest the upward movement of said forward end of the bowl while the rear end of the bowl continues to move upwardly, whereby to cause said bowl to assume the position of inclination of said seat member upon contact therewith.

11. In a bed, a mattress supporting toilet seat frame adapted to be supported upon a floor and including a seat section having a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, means for suspending and elevating said bowl from a normally inoperative, lowered position to a raised position associated with said opening from below, a vertical pivot member to which said suspending and elevating means is attached for horizontal swinging movement, to project the bowl laterally from beneath the bed for use by an ambulatory patient, means pivoting the bowl to said suspending and elevating means on a horizontal axis, said suspending and elevating mechanism including means yieldingly acting on the bowl to normally tilt the forward end of the bowl upwardly about said horizontal axis, the bowl being carried by said suspending and elevating mechanism in a position normally clearing but closely adjacent the floor, with its own weight supported by said yielding means but arranged to yield downwardly against the resistance of said yielding means under the weight of la patient, to a position resting upon the floor.

12. In an invalids bed, a toilet seat frame section including an inclinable seat portion provided with a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, an arm on one end of which said bowl is carried for elevating movement from a lowered, normally inoperative position to a position associated with said opening from below, a vertically extending pivot member on which said arm is hinged at its other end to permit vertical swinging of the arm, said pivot mem'ber being journalled beneath the bed for pivotal movement to permit the bowl to swing horizontally from beneath the bed, electrical operating means for elevating and lowering said arm, said electrical operating means including a limit switch carried by said vertical pivot member and arranged to be engaged by said arm to de-energize said electrical operating means when the bowl has reached said lowered posltion in its downward movement, said bowl in said lowered position being suspended slightly above the oor so that it may be swung horizontally without contacting the oor.

13. In a bed, a toilet seat frame portion including an inclinable seat section provided with a bowl receiving opening, a toilet bowl, means on which said bowl is carried for elevating movement from a lowered, normally inoperative position to a position associated with said opening from below, a vertically extending pivot member on which said bowl carrying means is mounted for horizontal swinging movement of the bowl from beneath the bed, electrical operating means for elevating and lowering said bowl carrying means, said electrical operating means including a limit switch arranged to be actuated upon movement of said bowl carrying means to said lowered position so as to de-energize said electrical operating means when the bowl has reached said lowered position, said bowl being suspended slightly7 above the floor in said lowered position so that it may be swung horizontally without contacting the oor.

14. In a bed, in combination: a frame structure; a sectional bed bottom one section of which is pivotally mounted on said frame structure for elevation to an inclined seating position, said section having an opening; a toilet bowl; means mounting said toilet bowl for elevation from a lowered position beneath said opening to an operative position communicating with said opening from beneath; a drain pipe connection between said bowl and a sewer outlet; a ushing connection between said bowl and a water supply; said iiushing and drain pipe connections each including relatively movable tube members and tubular means joining said tube members for such relative movement, whereby to provide for said bowl movement, said bowl being pivoted to said mounting means upon a transverse horizontal aXis and arranged to make contact with said bed bottom section in a manner to assume the angle of inclination thereof when moved into said operative position.

' ALLAN J. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 244,612 Jensen et al July 19, 1881 467,017 Olsen Jan. 12, 1892 557,614 Schmitt Apr. 7, 1896 659,308 Lemmons et al Oct. 9, 1900 686 831 Nason Nov. 19, 1901 1,707,464 Horst Apr. 2, 1929 1,879,185 Gleim Sept. 27, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 144,374 Germany Sept. 21, 1903 

